Jewish stories for children of all ages

The mysterious farmer

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was the Rov of Berditchev, which had many wealthy Jews, and some that were not. Those who needed help were sometimes visited by a mysterious farmer with a fur hat and a red scarf who would deliver packages of food to those in need, along with some money. After Rabbi Levi Yitzchok went away from life, his talmidim ventured into the tzaddik's secret cellar, where they found the clothing of the mysterious farmer.

Abdullah, the flying merchant

When the Jews of Tunis go to the Arab market erev Sukkos to buy haddasim for schach, they are shocked to find that the price has been increased from three coins to thirty coins. Soon Abdullah, the leader of the merchants, is shocked as Rabbi Yeshua Bosis buys a bundle of haddasim and then asks Hashem for a miracle.

Five hundred white roosters

When the cruel pasha of Tsefas orders the Jews to bring him 500 white roosters or suffer a bitter end, they become fearful as it is well known that no white roosters could be found for hundreds of miles. But Reb Yosef Sargusi advises them well, and soon the pasha gets a very big surprise indeed.

The faithful guarantor

Senor de Pegoto is a wealthy, kindly Jew. When Chassan the Arab visits him and requests a large loan, Senor de Pegoto agrees as long as a guarantor is included. When Chassan says that Hashem will be his guarantor, Senor de Pegoto agrees and is very surprised when the Guarantor returns the loan the very next day.

Reb Aryeh Leib, the Shpoler Zeide

When Boruch hosts the Holy Baal Shem Tov, he sees a wondrous sight- the Maharal of Prague visits the Baal Shem Tov during Tikkun Chatzos and tells the Baal Shem Tov to inform his host that he will expect a son who will have the Maharal's neshomo. This boy grew up to become the famous "Shpoler Zeide".

To ignite a soul

Kalman the shamash lights candles in the shul every afternoon. Boruch the butcher offers to buy this privilege, but Kalman does not desire money. Eventually, on Rabbi Yehudah Leib Assad's advice, Kalmen sells Boruch the right to light candles in the shul. Years later, Kalman and Boruch realize that they have both greatly benefited from Rabbi Assad's wise advice.

Barrels of honey

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev faces his very first case as the new Rov of the city. It seems like an open and shut case- property in the possession of orphans cannot be claimed by a merchant with no document and no witnesses. But the Berditchever Rov suspects there is a deeper lesson to be learned, and his caution and patience is rewarded when the merchant remembers an event from fifty years earlier.

The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 6

R. Eliyahu Baal Shem gives R. Avraham Moshe a set of instructions to arouse his great-uncle Moshe to teshuva. When he puts up a mezuzah on the front door of Moshe's house, this opens up the gates of repentance. As the Baal Shem Tov concludes the story 160 years later, the mysteries of hashgocho protis, Divine Providence, are revealed in all their detail, right down to the drink of fresh springwater R. Chaim Rappaport had enjoyed just a few weeks earlier on the site of the ruined estate of R. Moshe, son of R. Shmuel Tzadok.

The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 5

Back in Prague, R. Yehudah Aryeh slowly forgets about his brother R. Moshe's sorry state. He sends his grandsons to learn with the Tosfos YomTov, and one of them, Avraham Moshe, receives special instruction in Kabbalah. Soon, an old friend of the family reminds them that their ancestor R. Shmuel Tzadok was punished with a son like R. Moshe because he himself would ridicule those who studied kabbalah. Avraham Moshe is saddened to hear of his great-uncle Moshe's situation, and asks R. Eliyahu Baal Shem, recently moved to Prague for advice.

The long Baal Shem Tov story, part 4

After R. Shmuel Tzadok goes away from life, his business affairs are handled by his son R. Yehudah Aryeh while his son R. Moshe learns Torah all day. However, within a few years, R. Moshe turns his back on the straight path and follows the lifestyle and customs of the local nobility. This causes anguish to his brother R. Yehudah Aryeh, who moves back to Prague to ease his pain.